Ingredients
A fernet built from mint, saffron, bitter roots and spices, following the house recipe kept in Contratto's Canelli archive.
History of the Brand
Giuseppe Contratto founded the house in Canelli in 1867, best known for its sparkling wines and vermouths.
The company's underground Canelli cellars, carved into tufa, are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Under Giorgio Rivetti the historic bitters and vermouth recipes were revived from the house archive, the fernet among them.
It is a deliberately less aggressive fernet — bitter and minty, but with a saffron warmth the big industrial brands lack.
Tasting Characteristics
Peppermint, saffron and dried orange peel.
Firmly bitter but rounder than Fernet-Branca, with cardamom, gentian and a lingering saffron sweetness.
Long, cooling and dry.
Flavor meter
How to serve it
- 01Neat at room temperature after dinner.
- 02With chilled cola, Argentine style.
- 03In a Hanky Panky in place of Fernet-Branca.
- 04As a half-ounce rinse in a rye Old Fashioned.
Where to Get It
Available in Italy and through Contratto's export markets in Europe and the US.
Italian bottle shops
Common in Piedmont alongside the house vermouths.
Online spirits retailers
Search 'Contratto Fernet'.
Cocktail bars
Poured where the Contratto bitter and vermouth range is already stocked.
Where to buy Contratto Fernet
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Contratto Fernet FAQ
How does it compare to Fernet-Branca?
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Similar strength and mint character, but rounder and warmer, with saffron and cardamom softening the menthol blast.
Who makes Contratto Fernet?
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Contratto of Canelli in Piedmont, a house founded in 1867 and known for its vermouths and sparkling wines.